Can cover



Dec. 27, 1938. A. LF R QBERG E AL 2,141,352

CAN COVER Filed Nov. 19, 195'? 2 v J m 5, I Jggafi 0W6. w Z6 f7. JZZZZKL. OTSZZjQ,

Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNETED TES ATENT OFFIE CAN COVER Application November 19, 1937, Serial No. 175,516

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a can cover, and more particularly to improvements in the closure construction of a can adapted to contain spices and similar substances One feature of this invention is that means is provided for selectively closing the opening in the topof the can to prevent spilling of the contents thereof; another feature of this invention is that a mounting is provided for the closure such that its ready and free movement is at all times assured; a further feature of this invention is that the closure construction is particularly adapted for usual manufacturing methods, since extremely close tolerances do not have to be maintained; yet another feature is that improved means is provided for maintaining a substantially uniform pressure of the slide or closure member against the top of the can; another feature is that means is provided for preventing the contents of the can from blocking movement of the closure slide; still another feature is that improved means is provided for reinforcing the edges of a spoon opening to maintain a good sealing contact between the closure slide and the top of the can about such opening; other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a can embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the top member closing the can taken along line 33 of Figure 2; Fig. 4- is a top plan view, similar to Figure 1, showing the closure member in sifting position; Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing the closure member in fully opened position; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View along the line 6-E5 of Fig. l.

In order to provide for the most convenient use of the contents of a can of the character dis closed herewith it is preferable that the can be provided with means for selectively sealing or closing an opening therethrough. In the present case, a can top is shown having a spoon opening therethrough, means being provided for having the can completely sealed (as when the closure member is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1), with only a few small openings therethrough-for sifting the spice therein (as shown in Figure 4) or fully opened to permit the insertion of a spoon to remove a measured quantity of spices (as shown in Fig. 5)

In order to provide these various positions the sheet member closure, slidably mounted upon the top of the can, must slide through considerable distance, and yet must be maintained'in close sealing engagement with the top member of the can at all times. That is, the flanges or members holding the slide member in contact with 5- the top member must hold it thereagainst fairly tightly, and yet must never jam or cause the slide to bind so tightly that it cannot be conveniently moved by the user of the spice can. Moreover, some means must be provided for preventing the contents from clogging under the flanges atthe forward end on motion of the slide to prevent full travel thereof; and for reinforcing at least one edge of the large spoon opening to ensure good contact of the slide member therewith.

In the particular embodiment of this invention illustrated herewith, a container or can ll] of any suitable form or shape, here substantially rectilinear, is provided with a top member ll having therethrough an elongated opening I 2. This opening is elongated in shape, being diagonally disposed with respect to the two longest parallel sides of the can, and has an arcuate edge and a straight edge so that it is substantially the 25 shape of a cross section through the bowl of a spoon. This enables a spoon to be inserted therein, when the opening i2 is exposed, to remove a measured quantity of the contents of the can.

The sheet member slide or closure [3 is adapted to'be slidably splined between the two flanges l4 and M and the top member II for movement back and forth across such top member. The, upwardly turnedrolled portion l5 provides convenient means for manually moving the slide. The forward edge of the slide has a diagonal portion arranged with a slope similar to that of the straight edge of the opening l2, so that when the slide is in the position illustrated in Figure 5 the forward edge of the slide substantially coincides with the straight edge of theopening in the top member. The slide is provided with small apertures it, here shown in a row parallel to the straight edge of the spoon opening, these 45 apertures being. adapted to have the contents of the can sifted therethrough when they are in registry with the opening l2.

The rolled finger grip member I5 is stamped or cut out of the sheet member slide, as illustrated, leaving a small rim between the stampedout portion and the back end of the slide. The top member H has two bumped-up portions ll and 18 adapted to co-operate with this rim to lock the slide in fully closed position (as illusparts together. The flanges or flange portions i4 7 1 r and the closure;

trated in Figure 1) or in sifting position (as illustrated in Figure 4) The top member I I has therearound upwardly extending portions or a rim l9, so that the top member is depressed a material distance beneath the upper edges of the side walls of the body of the container ID. The edges of the top member, above the upwardly turned portion or rim I9, are bent over and fastened to the top edges of the walls of the can to form a closure for the end thereof. This seal is here achieved by a channel or flange member 28, bent down on the outside about the top edges of the can walls and on the inside about the upwardly projecting rimof the top member, and crimped to seal the various and Id are part of a continuous flange around the inside of the channel member 20, these flanges being of resilient material and slightly spaced from but substantially parallel to the top member I I. These flanges'serve as guide members for the sheet member closure l2. I V

--Although the flange is'continuous, the two flanges disposed along the longer parallel sides of the can act as the guide members for the closure I3. Since these two flanges are alike, they will be considered as separate flanges and only 7 one described in connection with the top member Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 6, it will be seenthat the flange I4 is spaced from the top member a distance greater than'the'thickness of the closure or sheet member I3; sothat throughout the major portion of the flange it is not in contact with such closure member. Along the inner edge of this flange,

l howeventoward the other corresponding flange M ajnurhber of portions are provided closer to the top member, here shown as the bumped-down portions which are in actual contact with the 7 'top of the sheet member I3, and would serve to keep'it in sealingengagement withlthe top meme her I I of the can. Theflange I4 is, as shown, of substantial width, so that the depressed portions 2| are far enough from the rim I 9 to' enable some movement up and down as a result of the resilience in the flange I4. Thus, even though, in the course of usual manufacturing methods, some differences exist in the spacing between the flange I4 and the top member II when the flange or channel member 20 is crimped on the top of the between the upturned rims I9; and it'is urged against the top member II by the resiliency of the flanges I I and Id which are in contact there with only in the small areas provided by the depressed or closer portions 2 I.

Where the flange is a continuous one around the inside rim of the can, as illustrated here, it has been found that spices or condiments being removed from the can by a spoon frequently spill out and lodge under the flange at the forward end, toward which the slide member I3 travels to effect closing of the can. If this condition becomes too bad the slide'cannot'be moved to the position shown in Figure 4 'to enable sifting of the contents through the apertures I6. Since the front end of the slide member has a diagonal portion, there is no contact ,ofthis end of the slide with the lower lefthand corner of the can, speak ing with respect to the view shown in Figure 1. Inorder to prevent spice packing under the flange .the opening I2 has been found to sometimes bend, preventing good sealing contact of the closure slide therewith. In order to eliminate this difficulty, therefore, the top member II is provided with a stamped-down reinforcing ridge 23, which ridge is parallel to the straight edge of the opening i2, only slightly spaced therefrom, and running substantially the full length of said edge.

While we have described and claimed certain embodiments of our invention it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims in which it is our inten: tion to claim all novelty inherent in ourjinvention as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art. I

We claim: r

1. A container of the character described, including: a body; a top member at one end of the body to close the same, said member having an opening therein; a pair of parallel flanges spaced from said top member and having portions closer to said top member than other portions thereof; and a closure slidably'mounted between said top member and saidcloser portions and adapted to selectively close said opening.

2. A container of the character described, including: a body'; a top member at one end of the body to close the same, said member having an opening therein; a pair of parallel flanges on said topmember slightly spaced therefrom, at least some portions along the inner edges'thereofbeing closer to said top member than the remainder of' said flanges; and a sheet member slidably mounted'between said closer portions and said top member and adapted to selectivelyclose said opening. i a

BIA containerof the character described, ineluding: a body; a top member at one end of the body to close the same, said member having an opening therein, a pair of parallel flanges on said top member slightly spaced therefrom, at least some portion along the inner edges thereof being closer to said top member than the remainder'of said flanges, said flanges being so constructed that said closer portions are resiliently iuged toward said top member; and a sheetmember slidably mounted between said closer portions and said top member and adapted to selectively least some portions along the inner edges thereof,

being closer to said top member than the remainder of said flanges; and a sheet member slidably I mounted between said closer portions and said top member and adapted to selectively close said opening r 1 c 5. A container of the character'described, in-

eluding: a body; a top member secured at one end of the body to close the same, said member having an opening therein; parallel rims extending upwardly therefrom; a resilient flange of substantial width extending inwardly from each of said parallel rims and slightly spaced from said top member, at least some portions along the inner edges thereof being closer to said top member than the remainder of said flanges; and a sheet member slidably mounted between said closer portions and said top member and adapted to selectively close said opening.

6. A container of the character described, ineluding: a body; a top member having an upwardly extending portion therearound and having its edges secured at one end of the body to close the same, whereby said member is depressed beneath the upper edges of the side walls of said body, said member having a pair of parallel sides and an opening therethrough; a resilient flange of substantial width extending inwardly from the upwardly extending portion along each of said parallel sides and spaced from said top member, said flanges having depressed portions along the inner edges more closely adjacent said top member than the remainder of said flanges; and a sheet member slidably mounted between said flanges and said top member to selectively close said opening, the spacing of said flangesfrom said top member being greater than the thickness of said sheet member except for said depressed portions.

7. A container of the character described, including: a body; a top member secured at one end of the body to close the same, said member having an opening therein for a spoon; a rim extending upwardly from said top member and completely therearound and having two parallel portions on opposite sides of said opening; a continuous flange extending inwardly from said rim around said top member and slightly spaced therefrom, said flange having an opening therethrough adjacent said spoon opening; and a sheet member slidably mounted between said flange and said top member and adapted to selectively close said first mentioned opening.

8. A container of the character described, including: a body; a top member secured at one end of the body to close the same, said member having an elongated opening therethrough adapted to receive the bowl of a spoon, said opening being bounded by a straight edge and an arcuate edge, said top member having a reinforcing groove stamped therein parallel to and closely adjacent spaced from said top member; and a sheet member slidably mounted between said flanges and said top member and adapted to selectively close said opening.

9. A container of the character described, including: a body; a top member secured at one end of the body to close the same, said member having an opening therethrough for dispensing the contents of said container; a rim extending upwardly from said top member and completely therearound and having two parallel portions on opposite sides of said opening; a continuous flange extending inwardly from said rim around said top member and slightly spaced therefrom, said flange having an opening therethrough at one end of one of said parallel portions; and a sheet member slidably mounted between said flange and said top member and adapted to selectively closethe opening through said top member.

10. A container of the character claimed in claim 9, wherein said sheet member has a forwardly projecting tongue adapted to be moved under the opening through said flange.

11. A container of the character described, including: a body; a top member secured at one end of the body to close the same, said member having an opening therethrough adapted to receive a spoon for removing the contents of said container; a rim extending upwardly from said top member and completely therearound, said rim being substantially rectangular in shape; a continuous flange extending inwardly from said rim around said top member and slightly spaced therefrom, said flange having an opening therethrough at the corner thereof closest to said spoon opening; and a sheet member slidably mounted between said flange and said top member and adapted to selectively close the opening through said top member.

12. A container of the character claimed in claim 11, wherein said sheet member has a tongue at one corner thereof adapted to slide under the opening through said flange.

ALBIN L. FORSBERG. WILLIAM J. CHAMBERS. 

